Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 138 § 138-2
Definitions (Great Barrington Rent Control)
Operative Text
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN RENT An increase in excess of 1 1/2 times the percent of increase in the consumer price index for all urban wage earners (CPI-U) for the 12 months immediately preceding the rent increase.
Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 138 § 138-2 establishes what counts as a 'substantial increase in rent' for purposes of the broader Chapter 138 regulations. Under this definition, a rent increase becomes 'substantial' when it exceeds one and a half times the percentage rise in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Wage Earners (CPI-U) over the twelve months immediately before the increase takes effect. This threshold ties the definition of an excessive rent hike to a federally tracked inflation measure, creating an objective benchmark rather than a fixed dollar amount.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 138 § 138-2 should be aware that any proposed rent increase is measured against the CPI-U figure for the prior twelve months. Compliant operators generally track the most recent CPI-U data before setting new rent levels, ensuring that any increase stays at or below one and a half times that percentage change. Exceeding that threshold means the increase falls into the 'substantial' category defined by this section, which may trigger additional obligations or scrutiny under Chapter 138.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 138 § 138-2 gives tenants a clear, inflation-linked benchmark for evaluating whether a rent increase may be considered 'substantial' under local law. If a proposed increase appears to exceed one and a half times the most recent twelve-month CPI-U percentage, tenants may have grounds to raise that classification as relevant under Chapter 138's broader protections. Tenants who believe their increase crosses this threshold can consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the chapter's enforcement provisions to understand what options may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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